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Set in New York, the weekly, hour-long dramedy Related was another of the WB network's bids to replicate the popularity of their earlier Gilmore Girls. Upon the announcement by their widowed father (Tom Irwin) that he was about to marry his longtime fiancée (Christine Ebersole), the four "couldn't be more different" Sorelli sisters reunited under the same roof. Oldest sister Ginnie (Jennifer Esposito) was a lawyer who'd just become pregnant; Ann (Kiele Sanchez), a therapist, had recently ended a lengthy relationship with her boyfriend (Dan Futterman); Marjee (Lizzy Caplan), a professional party planner, desperately needed a new place to live after being booted out of an illegal sublet; and Rose (Laura Breckenridge) was a will-o'-the-wisp who hadn't yet decided between becoming a doctor or an avant-garde actress. Despite the friction brought about by their highly individualistic personalities, the Sorelli girls could be counted upon to stick together when it really mattered. Co-created by Marta Kauffman (Friends) and Liz Tuccillo (Sex and the City), Related underwent several major revisions between the pilot episode and the series proper, not least of which was the removal of Laura San Giacomo (Just Shoot Me) in the role of Ann Sorelli. As originally conceived, Ann was to have been the oldest of the Sorelli sisters, but as the project developed, it was clear that Ginnie Sorelli was emerging as the "leader" and surrogate mother of the bunch; hence, Ginnie was made the oldest, and San Giacomo bowed out of the cast in favor of the younger Kiele Sanchez. Related debuted October 5, 2005.